Cyclist demands Gosforth road safety improvements after being knocked off her bike

Northumbria lecturer Deborah Jima-Otero demands action on Gosforth roads after she is knocked off her bike

Dr Deborah Jima-Otero who was knocked off her bike by a taxi driver at South Gosforth

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A university lecturer has become the latest cyclist to demand immediate improvements at an accident blackspot for riders.

Dr Deborah Jima-Otero, of Rothwell Road, Gosforth, was thrown from her bike after being hit by a taxi on one of the two mini-roundabouts in nearby Haddricksmill Road on the evening of Monday, July 30.

And after watching the 44-year-old escape without any broken bones, partner John Brown was stunned to see an almost identical crash involving a cyclist and car in the same spot at the same time the following Monday.

The accident blackspot is one of the most dangerous roads in Tyneside, based on traffic collision figures, having seen more than 20 over the past seven years.

Dr Jima-Otero, who works at Northumbria University’s psychology department, was riding home from the Nuffield Health gym in Gosforth Park Way at 7.15pm when she attempted to navigate the second roundabout ahead of climbing the A191 Station Road.

But she was struck from the left by a taxi turning right from Haddricks Mill Road, leaving her lying in the road next to the Brandling Villas pub.

She said: “It was like slow motion and then I felt this big thud. I was so lucky because the first person on the scene was an orthopedic surgeon and the next was someone heading into work at A&amp;E. Even the ambulance didn’t have to come far as it was already passing.”

The patient was taken to the RVI and checked over, but her injuries were not found to be serious and she has now been able to return to work.

Dr Jimi-Otero continued: “The taxi driver has admitted he was at fault but the design and safety of the roads in this area is treacherous. My partner couldn’t believe it when he saw the same thing happen a week later when a cyclist was also knocked to the ground and taken to hospital.

“Drivers need to be more aware. I understand that they feel they have to have eyes in the back of their heads when they approach the junction but cyclists need to be spotted too.

“We are supposed to be encouraging people to cycle, especially now with the success of the Tour de France here, but what is the incentive of leaving your car at home when the roads are this dangerous? I know

I won’t cycle on this road again.

“I understand Newcastle City Council is planning improvements but I hope it doesn’t take a fatality to move things along.”

And Peter Harrison, chairman of the Gosforth Road Cycling Club and organiser of the annual Virgin Money Cyclone cycle race, added: “I would not consider ever trying to negotiate this stretch of road in rush hour.”

This week the Government unveiled its £300m programme of investment for the North East, which includes the junction among nine transport improvement projects, but work is unlikely to be completed before 2017.

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: “We have been concerned about the traffic conditions around these junctions for some time but weknew that any solutions would be extremely expensive.

“Now we have secured the funding we need through the Local Growth Fund, we are keen to make a start on some ambitious changes to make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Cycling is high on our list of priorities and we are striving to make Newcastle a city that is fit for cycling. We will be giving cyclistsevery opportunity to help us shape the plans, giving them the chance to comment online, at local events, and through the Cycling Forum.”

The Blue House and Cowgate roundabouts are also to be improved, with work to start in the coming weeks on the Cowgate roundabout where proposals include filling in the subways and providing level access crossings. Blue House and the Haddricks Mill roundabouts will follow.